Geary also topped Eric Braeden (Victor, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS), Roger Howarth (Paul, AS THE WORLD TURNS), Grant Aleksander (Philip, GUIDING LIGHT) and Thorsten Kaye (ex-Ian, PORT CHARLES).

Michelle Stafford triumphed over an equally impressive field to win the Outstanding Lead Actress award. Stafford, a first-time Lead Actress winner, bested Kim Zimmer (Reva, GUIDING LIGHT), Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis. GENERAL HOSPITAL), Maura West (Carly, AS THE WORLD TURNS) and Tamara Braun (Carly, GENERAL HOSPITAL).

In her acceptance speech, Stafford made a point of speaking to younger people who feel "like they don't belong . . . all that may pay off one day and you may end up taking home a statue like this," she said through a wide smile.

Stafford was on a second winning team when THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS won for Outstanding Drama Series, taking the award from GUIDING LIGHT, GENERAL HOSPITAL, AS THE WORLD TURNS and THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL.

Awards Host Vanessa Marcil (ex-Brenda, GENERAL HOSPITAL) made a point of not giving a monologue, in order to give the winners more time with their acceptance speeches. Rick Hearst, winner of the Outstanding Supporting Actor award, took advantage of this, thanking many family members and co-workers while accepting his second career Emmy (he won in 1991 for Outstanding Younger Actor).

Cady McClain (Rosanna, AS THE WORLD TURNS) quickly followed Hearst, earning the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress. She made her way to the press room and stopped in front of a flat-screen television long enough to watch the announcement of the Outstanding Younger Actor. McClain was rooting for her ATWT colleague Agim Kaba (Aaron), but the award went to Chad Brannon (ex-Zander, GENERAL HOSPITAL).

Jennifer Finnigan (ex-Bridget, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) won her third consecutive Emmy for Outstanding Younger Actress. Finnigan, who is now appearing on the NBC Primetime series CROSSING JORDAN, thanked her B&B; family for her time there, along with thanking her parents.

GENERAL HOSPITAL took the award for Outstanding Drama Series Directiing Team.

AS THE WORLD TURNS won for Outstanding Drama Series Writing. The show also won in 2001 and 2002.